22

The sight before me made bile rise so quickly that I had no way of stopping myself from heaving, emptying what little was in my stomach onto the floor.

A violent shudder raked through my body so strongly that I had to steady myself against the wall to keep from falling.

If I had felt unsafe before, now I **knew**—without a doubt—I was in **grave** danger. I had to do something.

Spotting a rag lying on the floor to my left, I unsteadily reached for it, only to gag again as the overwhelming stench intensified when I picked it up. Holding my breath, I frantically used my foot to wipe the vomit off the floor.

Returning the rag to its place, I quietly slipped back into the room where I had woken up. Any escape plan needed to be carefully thought through.

Then, the sharp *click* of a lock.

He was back.

The instant he entered, every hair on my body stood on end. My breath hitched in my throat, and I had to take slow, deep breaths to keep myself from reacting too obviously.